Core Value 38: Babel reversed; a pure language restored.

Core Christian Value

When man tried to glorify himself and build the tower of Babel, God confused their language. They no longer spoke a single language. In heaven, God will restore a pure language.

Do you know the story of the Tower of Babel? Do you wonder where all the multiple languages of the world originated? Listen to the story:

“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” GENESIS 11:1-9 NKJV

When those who love God are together in heaven, how are they going to communicate? Listen: “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord.” ZEPHANIAH 3:9 NKJV. There is the answer. The incident which brought multiple languages to the world’s citizens will be reversed. In heaven, we will all speak the same language.

There was an incident after Jesus had been resurrected and had appeared to over 500 persons, where many from foreign lands, who spoke foreign languages, were in Jerusalem celebrating the Passover. Those who had just been filled with the power and gift of the Holy Spirit began to witness to the multitude, but those witnessing spoke in the language of the foreigners. Listen to Luke’s account:

“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.’ So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?'” ACTS 2:5-12 NKJV

If God can simply “will” us to begin speaking in a new language and can, by His will, restore us to a pure language, does that help you understand His sovereignty, his omniscience and His power. Heaven will be a place where we all are able to communicate, perfectly. Can you envision the chaos of celebration, if we did not speak a single language? Does this example of God’s power clarify his level of control? Is this one more illustration of his concern for our well being? Is it an act of love?